Sociology

An expansive and fascinating field, sociology explores how human society develops and functions. Titles in this collection range from cultural studies classics like Orientalism by Edward Said and Gender Trouble by Judith Butler to recent Pulitzer Prize winner Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond.

Publication year 2008

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Tags Sociology, Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology

The essay “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” was written by Nicholas Carr. It was originally published in The Atlantic’s July/August 2008 issue. The essay stirred much debate, and in 2010, Carr published an extended version of the essay in book form, entitled The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. The essay begins and ends with an allusion to Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey. In the initial allusion, Carr summarizes... Read Is Google Making Us Stupid? Summary


Publication year 1898

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Politics / Government, History: European, Journalism, French Literature, Sociology, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2005

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community

Tags Politics / Government, Education, Education, Sociology, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Social Justice

Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?, a 2005 nonfiction book written by Harvard professor Michael J. Sandel, grew out of a popular course of the same name that Sandel teaches, in which he “exposes students to some of the great philosophical writings about justice, and also takes up contemporary legal and political controversies that raise philosophical questions” (293). In this book, Sandel does the same, comparing and contrasting several important approaches to justice and... Read Justice Summary


Publication year 2001

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics

Tags Philosophy, Politics / Government, Education, Education, Business / Economics, Sociology, Philosophy


Publication year 2009

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Sociology, Race / Racism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, Education, Politics / Government, Biography

Just Like Us: The True Story of Four Mexican Girls Coming of Age in America, written by Helen Thorpe, is detailed account of the lives of four Mexico-born girls as they come of age in Denver, Colorado. Thorpe, an Irish-American journalist, published the nonfiction novel in 2009. Two of the girls, Clara and Elissa, are here legally, while the other two, Marisela and Yadira, are without documents. While the girls are similar in birth and... Read Just Like Us Summary


Publication year 1995

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism, Sociology, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 1997

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Class

Tags Social Justice, Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism, History: U.S., Health / Medicine, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Sociology, History: World, Politics / Government


Publication year 2000

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Climate, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics

Tags History: World, Politics / Government, Business / Economics, Science / Nature, Sociology, Indian Literature, Chinese Literature


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Psychology, Self Help, Philosophy, Sociology, Health / Medicine, Health


Publication year 1963

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race

Tags Sociology, African American Literature, Race / Racism, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Social Justice, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government

This guide is based on the revised version of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail," published as the fifth essay in Why We Can't Wait (1964).King's letter is a response to another open letter, "A Call for Unity," published in The Birmingham News and collectively authored by eight Alabama clergymen who argued that the protests were not an appropriate response to conditions in Birmingham.King opens the letter by explaining that he is responding... Read Letter From Birmingham Jail Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Social Justice, Incarceration, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Sociology, History: World

Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America is a work of nonfiction by James Forman Jr., an American lawyer and legal scholar specializing in racial inequities in criminal justice. Published in 2017, this critically acclaimed book examines the complex role Black leaders played in advancing tough-on-crime policies that ultimately contributed to the mass incarceration of Black people in the United States. Drawing on his experience as a public defender and his extensive... Read Locking Up Our Own Summary


Publication year 1851

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags History: European, Social Justice, Poverty, Journalism, British Literature, Sociology, History: World, Victorian Literature / Period, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Regret

Tags Romance, Drama / Tragedy, Sociology, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2018

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community

Tags Self Help, Psychology, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine, Sociology, Philosophy, Depression / Suicide, Science / Nature, Psychology, Philosophy


Publication year 2019

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Class, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Mothers

Tags Sociology, Poverty, Biography, Social Justice

Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive is Stephanie Land’s first book. Land is a former professional house cleaner whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic. Her writing explores issues related to systemic poverty, the hardships and stigmas associated with social services, surviving in the gig economy, and the challenges of motherhood. Maid was originally inspired by a Vox article she wrote about... Read Maid Summary


Publication year 1993

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Health / Medicine, Sociology, Race / Racism, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Politics / Government


Publication year 1995

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Nation

Tags Education, Education, Sociology, History: World, History: U.S., Gender / Feminism, Race / Racism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)


Publication year 1999

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology, History: World, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Psychology, Fantasy, Self Help, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2007

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Community

Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Incarceration, Education, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Sociology